ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 290, 2 May 1911, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

"VIA WIRELESS." (Special to News.) Auckland, Last Night. The J. C. Williamson Dramatic Co. scored another huge success to-night in their second spectacular play, "Via Wireless," the principal scenes in which are concerned with the rescue of a shipwrecked party by the aid of wireless messages. Extraordinary enthusiasm was evoked as the various fine thrilling effects succeeded one another in rapid succession, and the audience continued cheering long after the curtain had been rung down. The acting, as in "The Whip," is especially good. The company is one of the best that have visited the Dominion for a long time.

OSSIPOFF. The difference between Ossipoff and the average vocalist is the difference between the farrier and tlie engineer of the Suez Canal, the apothecary's errand ■boy and the King's surgeon, Oringling Gibbons and the pork butcher who carves ham. Last night New Plymouth began to understand that it had been permitted to hear on four previous occasions the most definite and illustrative vocalist who ever came to New Zealand. The outstanding quality of Ossipoff's genius is hia ability to appeal to every intelligence. It is possible that some might forget his music in admiration of his fervid interpretation, his extraordinary power of illustrating the spirit of his message, and the magnetism of his method. One might leave the Theatre Royal quite forgetful of the items sung, but unable to ever forget the singer or his expressive genius. Last night the audi' ence was as appreciative as before, but was twice as numerous as on previous occasions. So wonderfully did Ossipoff seize the people that they penalised liini at every chance. It was patent that the great baritone, although in magnificent voice, was over-using it. but so charmed were his hearers that they forgot he was merely a man with a .single throat. Ossipoff has an instinctive knowledge of the kind qf song bis audience likes to hear, and so he chose many items that on his previous visits were received most gladly. No programmes were sup-

plied and perhaps none were needed, although their supply would have been a convenience. If one does not understand the language of OssipofTs incomparable Russian folk songs, one is yet able to recognise in them OssipofTs finest work. He adorns a great theme, and raises a commonplace one out of the ruck. The simple, and. shall one sfly. melodramatic, "Because"' ''went heme." not for itself, but 'because of Ossipr.il"-i method, and in cas"s where unfamiliar songs were sung, the personal power of the singer j was the reason for their ,*p'. :,lid reception. There is art even in OssipolT's announcements. He has no conventional: methods in either song or speech. He speaks and sings just as his heart die-1 tates, assuming and believing that he I cannot be misunderstood. When Ossipoll' had finished his programme last night, the people hated to leave the, Ilu atre. They rose and called for him '• He came on with Miss Renee Lees, and,' glowing with animation, quaintly asked, 1 "What do you want?" Everybody laughed, and somebody named a song. M. O-isipolT nodded delightfully to his wholly sympathetic accompanist and sang again.' When he finally left the stage the house was one vast ''cheer." Miss Renee Lees, the pianist, has a charm all her own. The more excellent an accompaniment..' the more frequently is the attention centred on the stage. A perfect sympathy between player and singer is exceedingly helpful and rare—and there is remarkable sympathy in the work of Miss Lees. Miss Lillian Edmonds' soprano voice, as one may have remarked previously, is more admired the more I one hears it. She was in better voice' last night than on her last appearance,; and her success was unmistakeable. A 1 truly delightful feature of the Ossipoff • concert is the oboe playing of Mr. Charles! Norman. He has a ma9tery of this sweet instrument rarely exhibited—and he j loves playing. He enriched some very j beautiful vocal numbers last night with ■ oboe obligatos, and in his soli demon-, strated the fact tliat an instrument, I in itself inanimate, may be made to convey vital melody. To-night the Ossipoff company sing" and play in the" El-. tliam Municipal Theatre. If Eltham' knows what is good for itself it will surge over the footlights and out 011 to the street to listen to the most vivid j singer who has ever sung in Xew Zealand. It is less an honor to Ossipoff ] that he should ''open" the theatre than I it is to Eltham that Ossipoll' should sing 1 in it. I

BIOGRAPH PICTURES. The change of programme submitted by the Biograph Pictures on Saturday night included one of the most interesting collections of moving pictures ever thrown oil the local screen. Every film is a star, and the audience showed its appreciation in rounds of hearty applause at' the conclusion of each picture. •'Fox Hunting" was the gem of the evening. This film shows an English pack located in their kennels, the meet, the throw off, and the hounds and hunts in full chase after the fox. At times the various incidents faithfully .reproduced are very exciting. The hunt takes place over beautiful country and the horses are excellent jumpers. After the hunt the hounds are seen on their way back to the kennels, where they are comfortably bedded down after their day's work. Local sports should not miss the opportunity to-night of seeing this picture. Other films include "Love, Luck and Gasoline," "Michael Grady," "Troublesome Baby," and "Captain Barnacle's Chaperonc"; star comedies, "Agrippina," "Jim the Ranchman"; star dramas, and the usual number of comics. The full programme will be repeated for the last time to-night.

VIA WIRELESS. On next Monday, May Stli. at the Theatre Royal, Mr. J. C. Williamson will inaugurate a one night season of highclass dranisi. The occasion will lie the first appearance here of his new London Dramatic Company, an organisation formed by Mr. Williamson himself recently in England. ''Via Wireless.'' a wonderfully successful play both in England and America, will be the attraction. It is spoken of as a play in which the story is more than ordinarily novel and interesting, and one in which the spectacular element is very liiiely developed. The company, which numbers close on 100. is an especially good one. .Messrs. Lionel At will, Charles lilackall. Charles <!raham, Eardley Turner, Vivian Edwards, Hubert liottoiuley. .Maurice Dudley and Ambrose Manning, among the gentlemen, and Misses Evelyn Kerry, Fyfc Alexander, Emma Temple. Georgie O'Mcava, Cecilia Wilman, among the ladies, are all artists of high reputation. There are four big scenes in "Via Wireless." The foundry scene, in which takes place the casting of a !)-inch naval gun; the excitement at the "Hotel Bella-Vista" in .Madeira; the weird and fascinating ■•wmv" "i;is<);K • the thrilling vrei nd dramatic r--?' lie by the ocen- liner in •r.ii!-o(->an. play, by Pa-' strong and Winchell Smith, two .'anions

American authors, is at. present a pronounced success in America, and recently created something like a furore in Sydney when interpreted liy tins company. We understand that the play will be presented here in precisely the same complete manner that has obtained in the Australian centres. The l>o.\ plan will be opened at Collier's Music ' Depot to-morrow (Wednesday), May 3. v| ! EDUCATION IN TABLOID. s The English critics are enthusiastic a over the marvellously aaeurate cineg matograph reproduction of Sir Herbert d Tree's Shakespearian drama, "Henry d, VIII." The educational effects of it are n said to have been surprisingly demone' strated during the first week of its exinhibition. Wests, Ltd., having secured d the Australian rights, will present it I for the first time in New Plymouth at an earlv date.